Recognition

Broadreach Public Relations founder and President Linda Varrell was honored with the Edward L. Bernays Award at the annual Maine Public Relations Council conference held in Freeport. Account Executive and Client Operations Coordinator Jillian Kanter was named a Rising Star during the evening’s festivities. The annual awards are given to MPRC members who exhibit a strong commitment to community service and unparalleled professional integrity and ethical behavior, and have also made outstanding contributions to Maine’s public relations industry.

The Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which manages the transition of the former Naval Air Station Brunswick from military to civilian use, recognized two Brunswick Landing companies for innovative business practices at the MRRA annual meeting. The Rollease Innovation Center was named the most innovative business in the larger company category, while STARC Systems was honored as most innovative micro business.

Maine law firm Eaton Peabody achieved top tier rankings in its Portland office in the U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers 2016 “Best Law Firms” rankings for real estate law and construction law. Eaton Peabody also received recognition in 14 other areas, ranging from banking and finance law to trade law.

Hires, Promotions, Appointments

The Portland Symphony Orchestra has added Laura Retherford as Annual Fund Manager, while Samantha Scarf takes the role of Event and Development Assistant.

Bath Housing Authority announced that Mary Terry has been appointed to its Board of Commissioners by the Bath City Council.

Verrill Dana welcomed Stephen B. Segal and Chantal M. Wilson to the firm’s Portland law office.

Peter F. Herzog of Scarborough has joined Portland-based law firm Bernstein Shur as an associate attorney in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group.

Julie DeSimon Rosenthal has joined the Ann Cianchette Real Estate Group at RE/MAX By The Bay in Portland as team administrator.

David Nadeau of Topsham has joined the Business Insurance Department at Clark Insurance in Portland.

TIQA, a Portland-based, pan-Mediterranean restaurant, has hired Bo Byrne as chef de cuisine, Nicholas Bowen as sous chef and Zara Edwards as beverage director.

Brett Cragg has joined Winxnet, a Portland-based IT outsourcing and consulting firm, as a field technician.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has received a perfect score on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Giving Back

Town & Country Federal Credit Union’s Better Neighbor Fund grant winners were recently announced in Scarborough: Scarborough High School Select Chorus, for a performance trip; Friendship House, siding and insulation for recovery house; Riding to the Top, for its A Walk in the Woods program; First Lutheran Early Childhood Fund, for the Give a Child a Chance program; Family Crisis Services, for the domestic violence victim assistance fund; The Summer Camp, Inc., for 2016 Camperships for girls; Casa, Inc. of Maine, for handicapped-accessible transportation; and The Salvation Army,  for the Tools for Life program.

The Sadie and Harry Davis Foundation has awarded a total of $64,500 in grants to the following: Art Van/Core Neighborhood Program, art therapy programs to youth in under-resourced neighborhoods in Bath, Brunswick, Lewiston and Auburn; Center for Grieving Children/Bereavement Peer Support Program; Furniture Friends/A Bed for Every Child; Gekakina, Inc./Nature’s Garden;  Maine Equal Justice Partners/Ensuring MaineCare Coverage for Eligible Children; Northeast Hearing & Speech Center/iPad Workshops; Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine/Expansion of Services; and The Opportunity Alliance/Children’s Outpatient Therapy.

The People’s United Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of People’s United Bank, has awarded a $2,500 grant to Service Corps of Retired Executives of Portland. SCORE, a nonprofit association supported by the Small Business Administration, helps small businesses achieve their goals through education and mentorship. The funding from the People’s United Community Foundation will support 17 business fundamental workshops for the Portland chapter.

On the Move

LiveandWorkinMaine.com has been launched to engage job seekers from outside Maine to provide information about employment opportunities and Maine’s quality of life.

Chimani, Inc., of Portland, a leading mobile app provider for national park and outdoor destination travel guides, has been chosen as one of only nine launch partners for Google’s innovative new App First Indexing technology.

Herzog

Nadeau